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Oscar was the only other person who knew her secret besides Luc and the general.

He knew it was why he’d been sent to look for her. The general wanted people who could help her hide her abilities and nature. And she had included some of Ava’s friends in the team to help them.

If someone else had to learn what she was, at least it could be one of the soldiers in the unit she had been assigned to when she’d been pretending to be a simple soldier in the Venyatux army. If anyone would be inclined to keep her secret, it would be them.

Only, he knew the temptation to talk would be strong. It was unlikely all of them would keep quiet.

“We don’t talk about . . .” He didn’t finish his sentence, and Oscar looked over at him, frowned, and then gave a nod.

“No. Let’s try to keep our little circle exclusive.”

They were riding up front, a little way ahead of the others, and Taira rode up beside them. “This is the opposite way they said she went.” She looked as strained as Deni felt.

“I know. But I have to believe it’s a diversion.” He’d split them up anyway, sending five of his team down the river, following the trail that had been left by the man accompanied by a cowed woman in a cloak, head bowed, who had gotten on a boat for the coast.

He knew in his gut sending them that way was a waste of time, but he didn’t think he’d forgive himself if it turned out his gut was wrong and she could have been saved. So he’d split the group up, and now it was just himself, Oscar, Taira, Carrie and Tras.

“Deni’s right.” Tras and Carrie had caught up and Tras was adamant. “There is no way Avasu would stand for the kind of treatment the witnesses say they saw her submit to without fighting back. If they brought her through here, it was hidden from sight and tied up or unconscious.”

Cassie gave a nod. “I agree that the description of what they saw seems suspicious. Why would her abductor strike her when she was on the boat, out of reach of help, exactly when there were a good number of witnesses on the shore? It had to have been someone pretending to be her to set a false trail.”

“And if it isn’t?” Taira rubbed at her temple.

“Then Froen and the others will find her.” Oscar kept his tone upbeat, but Deni knew he was just as worried as the rest of them.

Avasu seemed invincible.

She had sacrificed herself for him, Luc and Oscar up in the hills, allowed herself to be captured, and she had still gotten out of it. Not just intact, but with the keys to the city gates in her hand.

For her to disappear from the streets of Fernwell and be spirited away without a trace seemed utterly improbable.

“Strong magic is at work,” he said, and realised he’d spoken out loud.

Every eye was on him.

They needed to know, to be warned, he decided.

“The only way they could have done this was using some magical trickery. We all know Avasu is no easy mark. If they got her, they did it with magic.”

“Why did they take her, though?”

No one answered Taira’s question.

Deni and Oscar knew, but admitting that would lead to admitting to other things. Which they could not do.

Deni fingered the tunic he wore, which Ava had embroidered for him before they’d gone into battle.

Oscar wore something similar.

Avasu had protected them. Was still protecting them. They could do no less than rescue her.

* * *

Luc hadn’t trustedthe Kassian soldiers when they’d said there were no other groups like them in the area.

The clearing showed signs of perhaps double the number they’d seen, the flattened ground where soldiers had slept, and piles of cups and plates beside the fire pit that had amounted to many more than the men they’d spoken to.

He sent the warning to everyone in the unit and wasn’t surprised when the scouts picked up trails indicating small groups had come this way, sometimes only ten minutes ahead of them.